#NoWatersLeftBehind

Canada is a country woven together by the lakes and rivers that span the land from coast-to-coast-to-coast. It is in these waters where we have learnt to swim, paddle and to fish. But much more than that, waterways across the country form a key pillar for community, economic, and physical health.

In 2012, changes made to one of Canada’s oldest laws, the Navigable Waters Protection Act (NWPA) eliminated protection for over 99% of Canada’s waterways. Under the Navigation Protection Act (NPA) just 64 rivers, 97 lakes, and the three oceans are protected from development that restricts their navigability.

The NWPA was a key environmental piece of legislation used to protect water flows from impacts of extraction and development. For the millions of lakes, rivers, and streams that lost protection, a permit is no longer needed to build bridges or structures that could intercept their flow. Under the NPA only a tiny fraction, 1% of Canada’s rivers and lakes, are listed “scheduled waters” for protection.

In February 2018, the federal government introduced Bill C-69 and a new Canadian Navigable Waters Act. The new legislation does once again require approval for major works on navigable waters--which is an improvement.But, the Act stops short of protecting the environmental, social, and cultural value of ALL navigable waters.

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The Canadian Freshwater Alliance (CFA) assists Canada’s diverse non-profit water community to secure healthy, thriving waters from coast to coast to coast. Founded on the notion that people and the environment have the right to healthy waters, the Alliance is working to unite, train and mobilize diverse water stewards big and small, near and far.